“Quit crying, Dove. Tears mean you won’t see me again, and you will. You’ll get to school and so will I, and time will fly. Before you know it, we’ll be back home for the holidays, catching each other up on everything that’s been happening.”
She pulled back and smiled at him as she tugged at her short, frayed denim shorts. “You’re right. Then before you know it, we’ll be graduating,” she declared, wiping her nose with the back of her arm.
“Yep. Take care, girl. Don’t forget to write and call.”
“I won’t, but you’d better not forget, too, Reigh. I’m not playing. I’ll come to that school and beat your butt.”
He laughed, and they exchanged one final hug and goodbye before he kissed the top of her head.
“Come on. I swear you two act like an old married couple,” Mr. Flowers joked with a broad smile.
Reighvyn shook his head and jogged down the steps along with Dove. He stood in their yard, watching and waving as she climbed into the back beside Ivy and buckled her seat belt.
“Bye, Dove!” he yelled as they pulled out of the driveway
“Bye, Reigh-Reigh,” she cried out of the window.
He ran into the middle of the street and kept waving as she turned around in the back seat and waved goodbye. When she could see him no more, she allowed the tears to fall.
“I knew it! Told you that you liked him,” Ivy gleefully stated.
“Shut up,” Dove hissed.
“You should’ve just told him you wanted him to be your boyfriend,” Ivy whispered.
Dove rolled her eyes. Reighvyn would be leaving for college tomorrow, and she was sure he would have his selection of girlfriends to choose from. Dove prayed the time would pass quickly until she saw her best friend again.
FOURTEEN YEARS LATER
“Rememberone year ago when this chick thought it was cute to parade someone else’s man around?”
“Y’all, is she outside with somebody else’s man?”
“Girls, hide ya man because Rose the Recker was seen outside yesterday.”
“Just trifling. Couldn’t be me. ’Cause I would’ve thrown some hands.”
I sighed and clicked out of social media. Rolling my eyes, I groaned. “Here we go with this shit again. It’s been one year. People, let it go. I mean, damn already. I thought it would’ve been out of everyone’s minds by now,” I muttered.
The bell over the door tinkled, and my stomach clenched. I turned my attention from my phone and forced a smile on my lips when I saw one of my repeat customers.
“Hey, hon. Let me go grab your order.”
I stuffed my phone in my pocket and headed toward the climate-controlled cooler in the back to get her order. I fought off the negative thoughts that tried to insinuate their way into my mind ever since seeing those posts return yesterday morning. Things had been quiet for so long that I had hoped it was all over.
I should have known that going to the floral conference would start some mess up again. I had hoped that it wouldn’t, though. The weekend had passed by without incident—until this morning. I woke to find that someone had recognized me over the weekend and submitted my picture to one of the gossip vlogs.
“Here you are, love. I hope your niece enjoys them.” I passed the large bouquet of orange orchids, yellow roses, and sprigs of baby’s breath to my loyal customer, Ciara Daughton. Her niece’s school colors were orange, gold, and white. I chose the yellow roses to represent the gold.
“I’m sure she will love them. She always loves it when I bring her flowers from your shop. She’s never had a bouquet this large before, though.”
“She deserves it. Congratulations again on her graduation.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back next week for my nephew’s graduation,” Ciara declared.
“I know. I already received your online order, and it will be fresh when you arrive.”
“Thanks, Dove.” She waved goodbye and breezed out the door as I turned my attention to the next customer in line.
